When it rains? it pours--and I dont mean from the sky.

[the ringo kid]

Seeking ANY advice concerning diabetes--cat-related.


Monday I had blood work done on my cat Shasta. I had it done--thus wiping me completely out financially--but needed to know answers to my questions. Shasta has been having reoccurring urinary tract infections. Ive been giving her various meds like veraflox--and steroid therapy--nothing is working. Late in the afternoon-results came back from the blood work, and NOW she has diabetes.

When they took samples out of her right rear leg--I never saw here flinch in so much pain--which greatly angered me and saddened me at the same time. The anger came because I saw how badly she hurt tho I know they werent intentionally hurting her. The sadness came from that she will need insulin injections 2xday.

The Lord has given me a heavy cross to carry--and I dont know how much more a load I can bear?

Does anyone else here have a pet with diabetes? The word and disease is not new to me--just having to deal with it is new to me.

 

[billwill]

Good luck with the kitty. They give us so much love, its hurts to see them hurting. Hang in there.

 

[erics]

Had a small Bijon dog that was diabetic and epileptic so did two seperate injections per day. Both were very small bore needles which could be given by just taking a fold of loose fur and injecting just below. No inter muscular poke required. I'm the only non medical one in the family(nurses, emt, etc) but I was the one to do the deed. In short order both of us were okay with the process. I know that understanding the benefits to our pooch made this worthwhile. Hang in there, you'll both soon feel better about this.

 

[Tom S.]

From what I've read on line, the injections use a very small needle and when done correctly, the cat won't even know she got it. Good luck, and hang in there.

 

[Fishslayer]

I had a Cattle Dog foster with diabetes. Not sure how similar feline type is to canine type but K9diabetes.org had me from zero to regulated fairly quickly.

Here is a feline website. As with all things internet you might want to do some homework & go with your gut.
Feline Diabetes —Diabetes in Cats — Treatment and Diabetic Cat Info — FDMB

Blood glucose (BG) testing at a vet will get real expensive real quick. I tested the dog's BG at home with a human meter. There is a difference so I had the vet do a BG curve & wrote the values from the vet's meter versus human meter for reference. This was a few years ago but strips for the K9 meter were stupid expensive compared to human.

Things do change in the medical world. When I had Lucy I had her on Relion brand U100 human insulin from Walmart because it worked out to about 1/4 the cost of U40 Vetsulin. The diabetes website would probably have the most up to date info. Twice daily injections aren't rocket surgery but attention to detail is imprtant.

Good luck. Barring other complications the diabetes is manageable.

 

[snubbyfan]

Sorry to hear about Shasta. I know that when our furry little friends hurt we hurt.
Just what you didn't need on top of everything else.

I personally believe that we're occasionally tested and if we handle that test in a satisfactorily manner then we're gifted when we come out the other side.
Though I havta admit that it's been difficult to think that way at times.

Hang in there brother, it'll all come out in the wash.

 

[Nightowl]

One night about midnight, I was in the garage smoking a cigar and reading gun magazines.. This big hairy cat appeared. I gave him some milk. He looked like he had been well groomed and was a healthy cat. Now, about 13 years later, I have had to start giving him the diabetes insulin injections twice a day. There has been a lot in between, but he is a good cat and we will take care of him until that time comes.
By the way, he is a big tricolor Maine Coon.

 

[the ringo kid]

Had a small Bijon dog that was diabetic and epileptic so did two seperate injections per day. Both were very small bore needles which could be given by just taking a fold of loose fur and injecting just below. No inter muscular poke required. I'm the only non medical one in the family(nurses, emt, etc) but I was the one to do the deed. In short order both of us were okay with the process. I know that understanding the benefits to our pooch made this worthwhile. Hang in there, you'll both soon feel better about this.

Thats what im using and hoping the med is in her system. How long does it take for them to get their appetite back? She refuses to eat her dry food which is expensive, but will eatr wet food thats $4 aa can and not affordable.

 

[the ringo kid]

From what I've read on line, the injections use a very small needle and when done correctly, the cat won't even know she got it. Good luck, and hang in there.

I'm now using those but, I'm still not sure I'm doing it correctly? Ive never given any injections before to anything including turckeys etc. Now I have to switch to canned food as she is refusing the dry stuff now. I know shes starved by now because I fed her about 1/3rd a can yesterday and she tore into it like a hurricane to a house built out of a deck of cards.

 

[the ringo kid]

I had a Cattle Dog foster with diabetes. Not sure how similar feline type is to canine type but K9diabetes.org had me from zero to regulated fairly quickly.

Here is a feline website. As with all things internet you might want to do some homework & go with your gut.
Feline Diabetes —Diabetes in Cats — Treatment and Diabetic Cat Info — FDMB

Blood glucose (BG) testing at a vet will get real expensive real quick. I tested the dog's BG at home with a human meter. There is a difference so I had the vet do a BG curve & wrote the values from the vet's meter versus human meter for reference. This was a few years ago but strips for the K9 meter were stupid expensive compared to human.

Things do change in the medical world. When I had Lucy I had her on Relion brand U100 human insulin from Walmart because it worked out to about 1/4 the cost of U40 Vetsulin. The diabetes website would probably have the most up to date info. Twice daily injections aren't rocket surgery but attention to detail is imprtant.

Good luck. Barring other complications the diabetes is manageable.

Thank you for all. I did some reading on that site on injecting etc--I don't know if I did the first few right or not? but now armed with a few techniques to try. I'm told if hers was found out in time? it may go back to normal and ill not need the insulin. I think the above brand you mentioned is what I got? anyway--I had to get the cheapest. It makes me wonder why a needle can be used only once? ive seen--at least in the old days-where doctors cleaned them with alcohol.

 

[the ringo kid]

Sorry to hear about Shasta. I know that when our furry little friends hurt we hurt.
Just what you didn't need on top of everything else.

I personally believe that we're occasionally tested and if we handle that test in a satisfactorily manner then we're gifted when we come out the other side.
Though I havta admit that it's been difficult to think that way at times.

Hang in there brother, it'll all come out in the wash.

Thank you Wayne. I kind of wonder if the Lord's testing me-knowing full well ill do what I can afford for Shasta. I know ive tested the Lord's patience all the time, now I guess it's (for lack of better words) payback--not that I'm blaming him for her being ill-just cant word it better just now.

 

[the ringo kid]

One night about midnight, I was in the garage smoking a cigar and reading gun magazines.. This big hairy cat appeared. I gave him some milk. He looked like he had been well groomed and was a healthy cat. Now, about 13 years later, I have had to start giving him the diabetes insulin injections twice a day. There has been a lot in between, but he is a good cat and we will take care of him until that time comes.
By the way, he is a big tricolor Maine Coon.

I found Shasta sometime during the summer of 04. The owners left her top die--just because she was a runt. I think she was all of maybe 2-3 weeks old? Anyway, I found her-fed her and glad she stuck around.

 

[Nightowl]

Jake will still eat dry food, but prefers the soft stuff now. I think because it is easier to chew. He has always been a snacker, so its hard to tell how much dry he eats and when. When the bowl is empty he will just sit and look at you until you fill the bowl.

 

[walkin jack]

Wow Carl, I'm so sorry about this. Actually diabetes is fairly common in cats. In most cases after a brief adjustment by the cat and the cats owner life goes on as usual. The injections are not painful and allow your cat to be symptom free and resume a normal life.

I've only ever heard of one cat that didn't respond to it treatment and that was a cat my daughter had. Fynn just couldn't stop peeing everywhere and finally had to be crated and short after that developed some other problems related to the original diabetes and had to be euthanized.

I hope Shasta can come out of this alright. She's a lucky kitty to have such a good "daddy". I say a prayer for her and for your comfort and acceptance.

Good luck my friend.

 

[6518John]

Seeking ANY advice concerning diabetes--cat-related.

The Lord has given me a heavy cross to carry--and I dont know how much more a load I can bear?

Does anyone else here have a pet with diabetes? The word and disease is not new to me--just having to deal with it is new to me.

"The King will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.'"

 

[Arik]

Do you have pet insurance? I know many people think it's a scam but I've used it for my dog many times and although you pay 100% up front I was always reimbursed roughly 50%. Also look around there may be organizations that help with pet issues for struggling families

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

 

[the ringo kid]

Jake will still eat dry food, but prefers the soft stuff now. I think because it is easier to chew. He has always been a snacker, so its hard to tell how much dry he eats and when. When the bowl is empty he will just sit and look at you until you fill the bowl.

Up until about last Thurs? Shasta snacked on the dry stuff all the time. Now she's hooked on the wet stuff-and they told me this morning that she may go back to eating dry--but I have to wait around 2 weeks for the insulin to take hold? Once that's done--they said I might be able to force her into eating dry--by starvation necessity. To me--I cant starve her and live with my decision.

I was at the gym yesterday and one of the regulars had the GALL to suggest I give her over to him to euthanize. I felt like busting his teeth out at the suggestion and he knew I was very angry. He then backed off a bit and suggested I take her to a place called: The Cattery--who I guess would take her in to live the remainder of her life there--which is NOT going to happen. Ill never abandon Shasta-no matter what.

A 4 pound bag of her prescription dry food-costs $23-8 pound slightly under double that amount. The canned stuff-a case--is almost $50 for 24 cans. I THINK I can stretch out 2 cans about 3 days?????

 

[the ringo kid]

Wow Carl, I'm so sorry about this. Actually diabetes is fairly common in cats. In most cases after a brief adjustment by the cat and the cats owner life goes on as usual. The injections are not painful and allow your cat to be symptom free and resume a normal life.

I've only ever heard of one cat that didn't respond to it treatment and that was a cat my daughter had. Fynn just couldn't stop peeing everywhere and finally had to be crated and short after that developed some other problems related to the original diabetes and had to be euthanized.

I hope Shasta can come out of this alright. She's a lucky kitty to have such a good "daddy". I say a prayer for her and for your comfort and acceptance.

Good luck my friend.

Thank you Jack, and GOD I hope she goes back to normal. If I only had about $200 extra a month? taking care of all her needs wouldn't hurt me at all. I just applied for Home Depot--Walmart-and still pestering them at MV. All unknown at this time with interviews for two done.

 

[the ringo kid]

"The King will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.'"

Thank you, I needed that. I wish I were a better student of scripture.

 

[the ringo kid]

Do you have pet insurance? I know many people think it's a scam but I've used it for my dog many times and although you pay 100% up front I was always reimbursed roughly 50%. Also look around there may be organizations that help with pet issues for struggling families

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

I don't have insurance. Id like to get some for her--but cant afford it. What companies offer pet insurance?